Burst Pipe Water Damage in Houston, TX: What to Do First

Why Pipes Burst in Houston Homes

Pipes that sit exposed in attics, garages or exterior walls with little insulation are vulnerable when temperatures drop below freezing for an extended stretch, as they did across Texas during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Water inside those pipes can freeze, expand and split the pipe wall.

Freezing is not the only cause. Plumbers and restoration providers in the Houston area also point to other possible causes, though there is no published count of how often each one leads to a claim locally:

• Water heaters installed in attics, where a slow leak or a tank failure can go unnoticed until it drips through the ceiling below.
• Slab leaks, where a pipe under the concrete foundation corrodes or shifts as Houston's expansive clay soil swells and contracts with rainfall.
• AC condensate lines that clog and overflow, soaking insulation and drywall near the unit.

A burst pipe is a different problem than storm flooding. If your water came from outside the house, such as rising floodwater rather than a broken pipe, see flood damage restoration in Houston instead.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Burst Pipe?

A sudden and accidental discharge of water, like a pipe that suddenly splits, is generally covered by most standard Texas homeowners policies. Damage from a slow, continuous leak, such as a slab leak that has been dripping for months, is generally excluded. This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.

• Sudden and accidental water discharge, like a pipe that suddenly splits: most standard policies generally cover this, subject to your policy's terms and deductible (Texas Department of Insurance).
• Flood water from outside the home: most standard homeowners policies generally exclude this; flood insurance through the NFIP is a separate product.
• Continuous leakage or seepage, like a long-running slab leak: most standard policies generally exclude this.
• Mold: most standard policies generally exclude this, except for remediation tied directly to a covered water loss.

Texas Insurance Code chapter 542 sets claim-handling deadlines: insurers generally have 15 days after receiving notice of a claim to acknowledge it, extended to the 30th business day for an eligible surplus lines insurer, then 15 business days to accept or reject the claim once they have all the items and forms they requested, then 5 business days to pay an accepted claim after that notice. These windows can be extended an additional 15 days in the event of a weather-related catastrophe or major natural disaster, as defined by the commissioner. See the full Texas insurance claim timeline for the complete breakdown.

If you rent, tell your landlord about the burst pipe in writing right away. Your renters policy generally covers your personal belongings, not the building itself.

If That Did Not Work

If the water keeps coming back, or your insurer has gone past its deadline without a decision, try the main shutoff valve again, confirm where the leak is really coming from, and follow up with your insurer or the city in writing.

• Try again: if water still runs after you close the main shutoff valve, the leak may be on the city's side of the meter, not inside your home.
• Try another route: if you cannot reach the shut-off valve or it will not close, do not force it; seek qualified help to stop the water.
• Contact someone else: for a city water main or sewer problem, use Houston 311 or 713-837-0311. If your insurer has not responded within the timelines described above, file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance at 800-252-3439.

Keep documenting the damage with photos and receipts while you wait for a response from any of these routes.